Today is the birthday of Francis “Frank” Xavier Hebrank (September 24, 1821-December 14, 1900). He was born in was born in Owingin, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, where he married Felicitas Harz. In 1848, he emigrated to the U.S., initially settling in Morgan County, Tennessee. His wife and daughter Mary Louise followed a year later, but apparently they didn’t love Tennessee so ten years later, in 1858, they moved to Wabaunsee County, in the Kansas Territory.

In 1864, Hebrank founded the Francis Xavier Hebrank Brewery along the Santa Fe Trail (at what today is 110 East Main, Council Grove, Kansas). He ran the brewery until 1871, when he retired. Hebrank died on December 14, 1900, at the age of 79.

Francis “Frank” Xavier Hebrank . In 1848 Francis emigrated to America. His wife and child followed a year later. In 1850 they found a home in Morgan County, Tennessee. Apparently that did not meet his family’s satisfaction so in 1858 they removed to Wabaunsee County, Kansas Territory. In 1964 he established a brewery on the Santa Fe Trail near Council Grove. The brewery closed about 1871. Frances Xavier

This is Hebrank’s obituary from December 1900: